7 FEBRUARY 2002
The world’s most marketable tennis star, Anna Kournikova, has been kicked out of university after failing to turn up for classes and revelations that her dad was writing her term papers for her.

The glamorous 20-year-old had apparently not attended a single lecture or seminar during the two years she has been enrolled at Moscow’s Sport University. Officials at the prestigious academic centre are reportedly furious.

Despite her absenteeism, Anna was still notching up decent grades – or rather her father, Sergei, was. Apparently the well-known Russian wrestling star, who is also an honorary professor at the university, has been burning the midnight oil on behalf of his daughter. “Although Anna lost interest in studying and failed to attend lectures, she still passed all of her exams with As and Bs, thanks to her father,” says the university’s Dean, Sergeje Tabakovaeven.

The blonde tennis player, who now forfeits her £1,000 course fee, is unlikely to lose too much sleep over her expulsion, however. Despite plummeting to 86th position in the world rankings, she has earned over £1.8 million from the sport since 1995 and scooped a further £18 million in advertising and sponsorship deals.

Currently dating Detroit Red Wings hockey ace Sergej Fedirov – one of the sport’s highest paid players – the blonde beauty has also ventured into the music scene with a recent appearance in a music video by Latin heart-throb Enrique Iglesias.